It started on the street - in conversation with Jill Robinson - from street fundraising to Director at top school

Even state schools are having to fundraise now!

Jill Robinson is Director of Development at one of Scotland’s top-performing state schools, not a private school, yet her role looks exactly like a charity fundraiser’s. With government grants shrinking, things like sports, music, trips, and enrichment simply aren’t covered anymore, so parents and alumni are stepping in to protect the full school experience.

Jill’s path into the role wasn’t typical.

Jill started in financial recruitment, moved into charity fundraising, then ended up in education and discovered they’re all built on the same core skills: relationships, storytelling, and understanding what motivates people. From managing 350 door-to-door fundraisers to leading school campaigns, it all comes down to trust and human connection.

And sometimes, it’s deeply personal.

One alumni, aged 94, returned to help break ground on a new playground and was standing in the same spot she’d played as a child decades earlier. It’s a reminder that school fundraising isn’t just about money it’s about memory, belonging, and lifelong impact.